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Friday, January 31, 2014

Two drivers survive a deadly accident

Mluleki
Mrwebi

31 January 2014

Two drivers of a light motor vehicle and a
truck survived a serious accident this afternoon in Johannesburg.

Both drivers collided into each other
causing the truck to overturn and extensive damage to the light motor
vehicle.

ER24 Spokesperson Christo Venter said the
driver of the light motor vehicle was found sitting on the drivers` seat with
minor injuries and the truck driver as well sustained minor injuries.

Venter said both drivers were treated at
the scene and then sent home, the police are investigating the cause of the
accident.

Langebaan learners stranded with no school transport

Mluleki
Mrwebi

31 January 2014

Community leader Sammy Claassen said about
139 high school learners have since schools opened been stranded in Veldrif due
to lack of buses which the Western Cape Department of Education is supposed to
provide.

Meanwhile a new hi-tech initiative, which
will monitor taxis transporting pupils, was launched on Thursday in Cape Town.

Claassen about 300 learners in Langebaan
are missing classes and tests because they have not been to school since the
schools opened.

He added that community leaders today had a
meeting and they signed a memorandum giving the Department of Education an
ultimatum.

Denosa concerned about safety of healthcare workers at Pelonomi clinic

Lusanda Bill

31 January 2014

The Democratic Nursing Organisation
of South Africa said the continued safety problems at Pelonomi clinic must come
to an end.

Several healthcare workers at the
clinic have been attacked by intruders during their night shift.

Denosa’s Provincial Secretary in the
Free State Veronica Fransman-Hendricks said the fact that these attacks
happened without any safety control measures, shows the highest level of risk
night-duty employees are being exposed to.

Veronica Fransman-Hendricks said
Denosa has had several discussions with the Department of Health and officials
from the security department indicating in terms of the processes with
security.

Hendricks added that the problem is
that security guards are not placed at all sites and for the whole night.

Langa residents calling for housing development to be halted

Lusanda Bill

31 January 2014

Disgruntled Langa residents have
called for the Expanded Works Programme for housing development to be
stopped.Residents are claiming that the
City of Cape Town is not
communicating with them about developments of the project.

Mayoral Committee Member for
Community Services Tandeka Gqada said the city has on numerous occasions
engaged with residents on this matter.

Gqada said as the City of Cape
Town we cannot start a project anywhere without
informing the community. We even have the project steering committee that is
consists of councillors from Langa and also the beneficiaries.

“So that is why I am saying I don’t
know who the angry Langa residents represent because they have been informed
even the ward committees.So we have
recognized structures in Langa and we always update the community of any
developments that are taking place in the area” Gqada added.

Missing Adult Alert: Menville Murray

An accident in Mpumalanga leaves one man dead

Lusanda Bill

31 January
2014

A 40-year-old man on Thursday died this is
after his sedan clipped the rear end of a truck’s trailer on the N4 near
Nelspruit.

ER24 Spokesperson Christo Venter said paramedics
and other services arrived on the scene and found that the man was trapped in the
wreck and he unfortunately had passed away already and he was declared dead on the
scene.

Venter said the truck driver was not
injured in the accident and traffic was affected badly pending the removal of the
body of the man and also of the wreckage, as both vehicles were obstructing the
road.

The exact details of the cause of the
accident will remain the subject of a police investigation.

Cape Chamber calls for Parliament to focus on unemployment

The CapeChamber of Commerce has called on Parliament to stop wasting time on unrealistic legislation
and focus on real problems such as the economy and unemployment among the
youth.

President of the
Chamber Janine Myburgh said in the mining, engineering and construction
industries more than 90% of those employed are men, so it will be an
impossible task to find the qualified women to fill half the management jobs in
these major industries.

Myburgh said
Parliament should understand that in our democracy people have the right to
choose their own career path and naturally some career paths would be more
appealing to women then to men in order to rectify the gender imbalance in
certain professions.

“Interventions
need to happen at an early education stage and in a holistic fashion along with
social engineering.However most
importantly for business the role of the legislature is to remove barriers and
red tape and not to create barriers which the Women Empowerment and Gender
Equality Bill will do” Myburgh added.

Missing Child Alert: Sadieka Titus

A 37 year-old arrested for sexual assault and pornography

Loyiso Langeni

31 January 2014

A lengthy
investigation by the Galeshewe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual
Offences unit has led to the arrest of a 37-year-old man for sexual assault, sexual
grooming and child pornography in Kimberley.

The
suspect appeared in the Barkly West Magistrate Court on Wednesday and his case
was remanded until the 7th of February for a formal bail
application.

Lieutenant
Sergio Kock said the police saw several pornography material involving children
and arrested the suspect on the 28th January at his house in
Newpark.

The Police
also found one 11 year-old boy he was in the custody of the suspect.

It is
alleged the suspect lured three children, groomed them and taught them to perform sexual
acts with each other. The investigation against the suspect dates back to
September 2013.

Home Affairs ready to issue ID’s and Temporary Identity Certificates

Loyiso Langeni

31 January 2014

The Department of Home Affairs on
Thursday said it is ready to issue Identity Documents including delivery of
uncollected IDs and Temporary Identity Certificates to those in need especially
as voter registration weekend is coming up.

The Independent Electoral Commission
has set aside the weekend of the 8th and 9th of February
as the second voter registration weekend, ahead of elections in a few months time.

Department of Home Affair’s Director General Mkuseli Apleni said as part of the overall plan of the department for the
voter registration weekend and in keeping with past practices we have directed managers in all Home Affairs
offices across the country to ensure that all Home Affairs offices to be opened
from 08h00-17h00 on both days 8-9 February.

“All Home Affairs offices operate to full
capacity during the two-day voter registration weekend, including our mobile
offices.” Apleni added.

Missing Adult Alert: Aviva Jahaardin

AU appoints Binta Diop as Envoy for Women, Peace and Security

Loyiso Langeni

31 January 2014

Head of the African Union Commission
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on Thursday appointed a special Envoy for Women, Peace
and Security Mrs Binta Diop to ensure the voices of women and the most
vulnerable are heard much more clearer in the peace building and conflict
resolution.

Dlamini-Zuma was speaking at the 22nd
Assembly of the AU Heads of State and Government, with the crisis in South
Sudan and the Central
African Republic dominating
talks.

“We have to work together to ensure
that we have lasting peace and security in all countries in Africa this as part
of our efforts to silence the guns in the continent,” Dlamini-Zuma added

Ms Binta Diop is the President of
Femmes Africa Solidarite an independent body promoting the role of women in
preventing, managing and resolving conflicts.

CSM calls for Minister Blade Nzimande to ensure funding for all students

Mluleki Mrwebi

30 January 2014

The
Congress Student Movement has come out saying students should not have to
protest to obtain funding to assist them to complete their studies.

This is
after students from the University of Johannesburg this week protested in order to have access to the
National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

Acting
General Secretary of the Congress Student Movement Khotso Mofokeng said Higher
Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande need to do something urgently or
else all institutions will come to a stand still on Monday.

Mofokeng
said the CSM plans to march to the offices of the Minister on Monday.

About 30
students at the University of Johannesburg were charged with public violence when they
protested for funding. In Kwazulu Natal Universities one student was arrested
for public as they were also protesting.

New African finance studies institute launched

Mluleki Mrwebi

30 January 2014

The first academic institute which
is dedicated to producing a crop of African finance sector professionals was
launched in Sandton on Wednesday.

Western Cape MEC of Finance,
Economic Development and Tourism Alan Winde said one of the institute’s key
aims is to meet the demands of industry for skills in the banking, risk
management and financial market sectors by developing local talent.

Winde said the idea is that we have so
many things but as South Africans are not playing the same role that Hong
Kong plays in China.

Winde added that we need to produce
more highly qualified young black professionals not only for South
Africa but for the whole
of Africa.

Couple arrested for drugs in Woodstock

Woodstock Police on Wednesday
arrested a couple for being in possession and dealing in drugs.

The arrest comes after police were
informed about alleged illegal activities happening at the Grey
street home.

Sergeant Hilton Malila said police
executed a search warrant and upon searching the premises we confiscated 338
packets of tik, 187 units of heroin and 65 mandrax tablets.The drugs are estimated to the street value
of about +-R35 000.

Malila said both suspects are in
police custody and are due to appear in the Cape
Town Magistrate Court on Friday and face
multiple drug related charges.

Five suspects arrested for attempted murder and kidnapping

Five suspects aged between 19 and
32-years-old were arrested on Wednesday for kidnapping and attempted
murder.

It is alleged the suspects went to the
house of the 22-year-old victim in Hartbeesfontein and accused him of breaking
into their house.

Police Spokesperson Captain Pelonomi Makau
said once they could not find anything in the house, two of the five suspects locked
the victim into the boot of the car and drove with him to the nearest bush in
the area where they allegedly poured petrol on him and thereafter set him
alight.

Makau said the victim managed to take off
his t-shirt, roll on the ground and extinguished the fire that had consumed
him.It is alleged that the victim was
burnt from his head and back.The
suspects drove back to the victim’s house and his sister alerted the police.

“The victim was taken to hospital with
severe burns and all five suspects were arrested” Makau added.

Their case has been postponed to the 4th
of February for bail application.

Missing Adult Alert: Katleho Lehana

ACDP supports Collective Democracy

The African Christian Democratic
Party said the different political parties in the country will be working
together in their interest to bring diversity to voters.

ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said the Collective
Democracy is a mechanism that will increase cooperation on major issues
affecting citizens.

Dudley added a
country of diversity deserves a political leadership that represents such
diversity. Voters can now understand that their votes do count as the separate
political parties will be working collectively in their interest.

“The Collective Democracy is a mechanism that will sub
parties working together hoping to rescue South
Africa for what we know
to be a collapsing economy and the ruling party presiding over
corruption. So this is what has to happen because time has run out and what has
been done to in terms of collective democracy will bring value in the upcoming
elections.” Dudley said

DA questions Robert McBride appointment

The Democratic Alliance on Wednesday said
the appointment of Robert McBride as the Director of the Independent Police
Investigative Directorate will compromise the fight against police
brutality.

The DA has written to Police Minister Nathi
Mthethwa requesting that he reconsiders the appointment of McBride as the head
of the IPID.

DA MP of Police Dianne Kohler Barnard said
Mr McBride is not the right candidate for the job and the DA will be writing to
the Minister and if he does not respond then they will write to the President.

She added that is the ANC government is
serious about fighting corruption in this country then they should not hire
McBride.

Two women injured and a child died in separate accidents

A
6-year-old child was this morning knocked dead by a motor vehicle on Simon Bekker Road in Germiston.

Netcare
911 Spokesperson Santi Steinmann said upon their arrival on scene they found
that a six-year-old child had been knocked over by a motor vehicle.

Steinmann
said the child was treated on scene and rushed to a nearby hospital but
tragically died upon arrival at the hospital.

Steinmann
said the girl died due to the severe injuries she sustained.

In another accident two women where
left seriously injured after they were knocked over by a vehicle on Van
Ryneveld Avenue, Centurion.

Netcare
911 Spokesperson Santi Steinmann said upon their arrival on scene they found
that two women were knocked over by a vehicle resulting in one woman sustaining
serious injuries and the other woman sustaining moderate injuries.

Steinmann said both women were treated on
scene before they were transported to hospital for further medical care.

The exact detail to the cause of the accident
and preceding events will remain the subject of a police investigation.

Cosatu calls on Impala and police to protect workers

Loyiso Langeni

29
January 2014

The Congress of South African Trade Unions
in North West said it is disappointment
that the management of Impala is continuing with its arrogance, calling workers
to report to work while they are not providing security to those workers, who
are not part of the strike.

Cosatu Provincial Secretary Solly Phetoe
said workers are being beaten and assaulted on their way to work, many
entrances from the shaft are closed and this is taking place mainly at Impala
mines.

Pheto said they are unapologetic that this
conduct of Impala management scheming with people who are unruly, people who
disrespect the policies and the piece accord that was signed.

It is on that basis that Cosatu is calling
workers on to be peaceful and respect other workers who go to work.”Phetoe added.

He concluded by saying that management and
the police must deal with the people who threatened those workers.

NUM not happy with Mathunjwa’s reaction to the media

Loyiso Langeni

29
January 2014

The National Union of Mineworkers has
expressed its concerns regarding comments that the President of the Association
of Mineworkers and Construction Union Joseph Mathunjwa has made regarding Num
in the media.

Acting Num National Spokesperson Livhuwani
Mammburu said there is no need for Mathunjwa to blame the NUM when his union is
facing internal problems.

Mammburu said instead of dealing with the
issues that he was being asked about.

“He mentioned NUM President’s name when it
was not necessary. Mammburu added.

Hawks arrested four people in Randfontein

Four suspects between the ages of 20 and 45-years-old
were on Tuesday arrested for being and dealing in drugs in Randfontein.

These arrests follow a search and seizure
operation which was conducted by the Hawks after the Randfontein
Magistrate Court gave a warrant for the search to
happen.

The suspects are expected to appear in
court on Thursday on charges of dealing in drugs.

Captain Paul Ramaloko said they arrested
the four suspects in possession of mandarax, tik and some cocaine.

“We are convinced that this type of
operation will encourage the community to report the dealing matters to the Hawks
and we are still going to carry on conducting this operation in this area.”
Ramaloko added.

Missing Child Alert

Cosatu WC calls for JP Smith to be fired

The Congress of South African Trade Union
in the Western Cape has once again
called for City of Cape Town’s Mayoral
Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith to be fired.

Cosatu Provincial Spokesperson Tony
Ehrenreich said the city is in a desperate crisis that needs to see a united
effort in confronting the scourge of drugs and gangsterism that result in
rising levels of criminality.

Ehrenreich said what we need is a leadership
that is concerned about the people and focuses on people.

Ehrenreich added that JP Smith has been
concerned about barking dogs and cell phones, he should be fired and replaced
with someone who knows about policing and is there to work on hard issues.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

ACDP welcomes Maphele Ramphele as the DA presidential candidate

The African Christian Democratic
Party has welcomed the announcement by the Democratic Alliance that Dr Mamphele
Ramphele will the DA presidential candidate in the upcoming election.

ACDP MP Cheryllyn Duddley said this
fits nicely as the DA`s vision is of a two party state.

Duddley said the ACDP however, is
committed to Multi-party democracy which we believe offers the greatest
prospects for unity, peaceful co- existence and holding government accountable.

She further said the ACDP would not
like to see one autocratic government simply replaced by another and this is
why we embraced the concept of individual parties with their own distinct
identities, working together in a collective to strengthen Multi-party
democracy and at the same time offer the electorate options.